# Where is my IRS return?

A Portuguese IRS return moves through four stages: submitted, accepted, assessed (the nota de liquidação is issued, with the amount to pay or to get back) and, if there is tax to pay, a payment reference ready. If the Portal shows «Declaração com divergências», the return has stopped and needs sorting out.

*Updated 18 September 2026*

## Step by step

1. Sign in to the Portal das Finanças.
2. Open the IRS returns list, at `irs.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt/app/consulta`.
3. Under the year, choose «Últimos 11» (last 11) and press Pesquisar (search) to see every return at once.
4. On each line, the first column shows the return's status; next to it are the year, the date received and the amount.

## The stages, one by one

| Stage | What it means | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Submitted | The return was received and is still being processed. | Wait. |
| Accepted | The Portal shows «Declaração certa»: it was validated with no problems. | Wait for the assessment. |
| Divergences | The Portal shows «Declaração com divergências»: the Finanças found differences. | Open the detail on the Portal and sort it out, usually with a replacement return (declaração de substituição) or the documents asked for. If it is complex, talk to a contabilista certificado. |
| Assessed | The nota de liquidação is out: the final calculation, with the amount to pay or to get back. | If you owe, a bill appears on the [list of payments due](https://tudocerto.app/en/guides/what-do-i-owe). A refund is paid to the IBAN registered on the Portal. |
| Reference ready | The IRS bill now has a payment reference. | Pay by the deadline, [by MB WAY](https://tudocerto.app/en/guides/pay-by-mb-way) or with the reference. |

> The payment reference can appear a few days after the nota de liquidação. If you have the assessment but no reference yet, check again in a few days.

## See the stage without digging

[tudo certo.](https://tudocerto.app/en/) reads the returns list for you and says, in one sentence, which stage each return is at and what happens next. Free, always.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the nota de liquidação?

The result of the tax calculation: it says how much you pay or get back for that year.

### Why is there no payment reference yet?

The reference can take a few days after the nota de liquidação. Check again in a few days.

### What do I do about a return with divergences?

Open the detail on the Portal to see what was flagged, and sort it out before anything else, usually with a replacement return. If in doubt, talk to a contabilista certificado.

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Source: https://tudocerto.app/en/guides/irs-return-status

tudo certo. is an independent tool and is not affiliated with the Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira. We don't provide tax advice. Figures reflect official 2026 rules; always confirm yours on the Portal das Finanças.